Twice Baked Potato Casserole is all of the wonderful, decadent flavors of a twice baked potato without the hassle! It's rich and cheesy, full of crispy bacon, and perfect for anytime!
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I love, love a twice baked potato. I do NOT love, love making them. Getting that wonderful mixture of potato and cheese and bacon back into the potato skins without destroying said skin is too much for me. The skins rip and tear and then I lose a potato boat. It's never been my specialty.
Enter: The Twice Baked Potato Casserole. It's all of the wonderful parts of a twice baked potato without filling and breaking the potato skins. It's so lovely and so easy, that you'll make it all the time when you need a side dish that everyone loves.
This recipe is a perfect side dish for steaks, roasted chicken, pork, and your favorite seafood. It's great for everyday, perfect for the upcoming holiday season, and will be a hit with whomever you serve it.
Key Ingredients
Russet Potatoes - My preferred baking potato and for this recipe specifically.
Butter, Sour Cream, Heavy Cream - Adds richness, creaminess, and a bit of tang that makes this casserole undeniably delicious.
Cheddar Cheese and Monterrey Jack Cheese - Flavor and bite from the cheddar and wonderfully melty-ooey-gooeyness from the Monterrey jack. This a wonderfully cheesy recipe. Just as it should be.
Green Onions and Garlic - Roasted in the oven for added flavor that cannot be beat. If you can, don't skip out on this part!
Bacon - Because bacon makes everything better. I don't know what else to say about that. Add it to the casserole and then top with a generous sprinkle. Nom nom nom.
Variations and Substitutions
I do not love potato skins, so I keep them out. If you love potato skins, simply incorporate them into the casserole and bake as instructed.
Instead of using sour cream, greek yogurt is a great substitution.
Play with the cheeses. Use any good melting cheese you love. As long as you shred it yourself and don't use the pre-shredded stuff from a bag, go wild.
A potato dish with southwest flair. Stir in a can of green chilis or sautéed poblanos for a fun spin on this classic potato dish. We call this version "Papas" and it's absolutely delicious!
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Tips and Tricks
Use cheese that you shred yourself. This is a ooey-gooey dish. You want the cheese to be nice and melty and you cannot get that if you use pre-shredded stuff in a bag. It will turn into a gloopy mess. Don't do it.
Cook the bacon until it's pretty crispy to give this dish fantastic texture and crunch.
Turn this into a main dish by stirring in some rotisserie chicken or cooked ham before baking.
You can also turn this into potato soup. Simply add chicken broth and the casserole to a sauce pan over medium high heat. If you want it thinner, add more broth. Like it it thinner? Add just a little broth. This is suchhhhh a great option for the leftovers!
Make Ahead Instructions
This twice baked potato casserole can be prepared up to two days ahead of baking and serving.
Prepare the casserole as instructed in the recipe but but do not bake. Cover with foil and refrigerate.
When you're ready, pull the casserole and let it hang out on the countertop for about 30 minutes. Bake covered for 10-15 minute, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes on until everything it nice and bubbly.
Slow Cooker Method
A great option, especially for the holidays, is to finish this recipe in the slow cooker. Follow the instructions as laid out in the recipe card, but put the casserole ingredients into the bowl of a slow cooker instead of a baking dish.
Heat on low for 2 hours or high for 1 hours. Once everything is melted and bubbly, turn the slow cooker to it's "keep warm" function.
Serve straight from the slow cooker because it's one less dish and the twice baked potato casserole will stay nice and hot!
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Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 medium russet potatoes approximately 5-6 pounds of potatoes
- 1 head garlic
- 1 bunch green onions
- avocado oil
- 1 lb bacon
- 2-3 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese, grated
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
The Potatoes, Garlic, and Green Onions
- Bake the potatoes in a 400° oven for about an hour or until they're tender.
- Trim the top ¼ inch off the top of a garlic bulb. Place the garlic cut-side up onto a piece of foil along with the white part of the green onion, drizzle with avocado oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt. Wrap the garlic and onion in the foil.
- Place the packet into a small baking dish and add that to the oven along with the potatoes. The garlic and onions will be done anywhere from 45 minutes - 1 hour. If the potatoes need more time in the oven, simply remove the garlic and onions and let them cool while the potatoes finish cooking.
The Bacon
- Cook the bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet along with the potatoes, garlic, and green onions until crispy.
- Once cooled, finely chop it. Reserve some for topping the casserole later on.
The Casserole
- Cut the slightly cooled potatoes in half and scoop out the insides into a large mixing bowl. Mash or breakup the potato pieces to your liking. You can make the pieces as large or as small as you would like.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose seasoning, melted butter, heavy cream, sour cream, half of the grated cheeses, and the ¾ of the bacon. Mash the roasted garlic cloves and mince up the roasted green onion tops and also add those to the mixing bowl. Mix everything to combine.
- Pour the butter mixture over the potato pieces, mixing to throughly combine. Add the casserole mixture to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese and bake in a preheated 400° oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Garnish with the sliced tops of the green onions. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving Ideas
You can serve this casserole with almost anything. It's great with beef, chicken, pork, or seafood. It's also fantastic all by itself. I love having a warm bowl for a casual, cozy comforting dinner.
Other recipes that would be great along with this casserole would be:
- French Onion Pot Roast - for a simple, yet wonderfully flavorful beef option.
- Oven Baked Salmon - my go-to salmon recipe that is quick and easy.
- Roasted Chicken - a classic weekly roasted chicken that's beyond juicy.
- Roasted Prime Rib - my no-fail recipe for the holidays thats so good!
- Roasted Cornish Hens - juicy, wonderful, and a little more elevated than the weekly chicken.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat leftovers in the microwave in small increments until warmed through. You can also reheat in a 300°F oven in a covered baking dish for 20-30 minutes until hot.
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating for best result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use russet potatoes for this recipe?
In my opinion, the russet potato is the one to use. It has the perfect amount of starch and will not become glue-like when mashed.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! No worries there!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Twice Baked Potato Casserole recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Other Great Holiday Side Dish Ideas
Green Bean Casserole - My version is made with frozen green beans making it super simple and so good!
Crispy Roasted Potatoes - If you love a crispy french fry, this is the elevated version. Cooked in duck fat, the flavor is out of this world and they go with anything!
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Decadent mashed potatoes if there ever were any. Combined with Boursin, this side dish is the stuff of dreams.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup - This is the best potato soup you'll ever have. You should try it. That is all.
Broccoli Rice Casserole - It's my all-time favorite side dish or potluck player. I can eat this entire thing by myself. And, I have.
Blake Smith says
This is so good, I would serve it to the Queen of England!!
Rufus says
Oh my gosh! I am so glad you liked it!
Brenda says
very yum! excellent side dish for any occasion.